Tack-puller.



No. 775,856. PATBNTED NOV. 22, 1904. J. M RANGK, SR. TACK FULLERAPPLICATION FILED APR. 1 1, 1903, N0 MODEL.

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STATns Patented liovember 23.22, 1904. it

JAMES M. RANGK, SR, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TACBK-PULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,856, dated November22, 190A. Application fi ed April11, 1903. Serial No. 162,164. (NomodeLJI To (all whom it 'lll/lb l/ con/earn:

Be it known that I, J Anne M. RANCK, S12, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTack- Pullers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements intack-pullers; and while it is primarily and particularly adapted for thepulling of staple-tacks yet may be employed as well for the pulling ofthe ordinary headed tacks.

In the pulling of what are known in the trade as staple-tacks it isinconvenient to extract the same from the floor or other fastening withthe ordinary tack-puller, due to the fact that it is practicallyimpossible to engage the taclepuller underneath the crossbar of thestaple-tack.

It is the primary object of my invention to overcome this difiieulty andconstruct a tackpuller which may be advantageously used for the pullingof the staple-tacks irrespective of how close the cross-bar of the samemay be. driven to the material into which the prongs of the tack engage.

Briefly described, my invention comprises a blade embodying a bodyportion the forward portion of which is substantially triangular, saidbody portion havinga bow or rounded heel on the lower edge back of thetriangular portion of the body, with a tapering shank projectingrearwardly from the body of the blade and on a plane above the same,this shank being adapted to receive a suitable handle fastened theretoin any desired manner. The body of the tool or instrument and the shankwhich receives the handle are made of one piece,and may therefore becut,stamped, or pressed out of a suitable piece of steel or other metal.

The specific construction of the device will be hereinafter morespecifically described and then particularly pointed out in the appendedclaim, and in describing the invention in deta1l reference Wlll be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, andwherein like numerals of reference will be employed for designatmg likeparts throughout the different views of the drawinstrument for pullingstaple-tacks.

To construct the device, I provide a piece of flat steel or othersuitable metal and shape the same to form the substantially triangularforward portion to the body, this triangular portion 1 terminating inthe point 2 and having its edges 3 idiverging at substantially the sameinclination with respect to the longitudinal axial center of said body.The body of the instrument and the integral shank 5 are of the samethickness. A line drawn straight through the body in line with the topedge 3 would intersect with the lower edge of the shank 5 at the joiningtherewith to the body, while the edge A of the body, which is theunderneath edge, is swelled out or bowed to form the heel 6, which actsas the fulcrum when the instrument is used. The shank 5 iLELDBT'S or isinclined alike on both edges toward the free end thereof, and on thisshank is fitted a suitable handle 7, which may be held thereon in anysuitable manner, as by a not or by a washer placed on the protruding endof the shank, and the latter then riveted down, as shown in the presentillustration. The inner end of said shank is angularly disposed, as at5, so as to extend at an obtuse angle to both the triangular bodyportion and the remaining portion of the shank. By this construe tionthe handle will normally occupy an inclined position with respect to thebody portion of the tool and have its forward end elevated so that thehand of the operator will not come in contact with the floor during thetackremoving operation.

I may construct the rounded heel as shown in Fig. 3, wherein this heel 6is shown as pro- In Fig. 4 the instrument is shown in the manner inwhich it is used for pulling a stapletack 10. In use the instrument isheld at an inclination such as will enable the pointed end of the bodyto be inserted underneath the crossbar of the tack and the handle endthen forced downwardly toward the floor. If the pointed end of theinstrument has been passed under the cross-bar of the tack, the latterwill be elevated as the fulcrum 6 or 6 engages with the floor and thehandle is forced down, the heel being of a depth sufficient to cause thetack to be elevated out of the floor prior to the lengagement of thehandle with said floor. For use on the ordinary headed tack the pointedend of the device may be inserted under the flange or head of the tack,and the latter thus readily lifted. The device is extremely simple andas the strain is all edgewise against the tool blade or body is alsoextremely strong As stated, the body and shank and durable.

are in one piece and may be stamped or cut in one operation from asuitable piece of metal.

While I have herein shown and described the invention at length indetail as it is constructed and practiced by me, yet it will be observedthat various slight changes may be made in the details of constructionwithout departing from the general spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is

A device for pulling staple-tacks, comprising a flat metal body of equalthickness throughout and having an integral rearwardly-extendingtapering shank with a handle fitted thereon, the said body beingsubstantially triangular in shape with its lower edge at an obtuse angleto the upper edge and terminating at the rear end in a rounded heel, andsaid upper edge of the body being in approximately a straight line withthe handle whereby a longitudinal thrust of the handle tends to forcethe point of the body under the tack, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES M. RANCK, SR.

WVitnesses:

A. M. WILSON, E. E. POTTER.

